What is experience mapping (ExperiMAP)? It is a systemic research and intervention tool that helps professionals map affective and relational self-regulative actions and reactions in the everyday lives of individuals, couples, and families. As a visual, creative, and qualitative method, it makes the invisible visible in research and therapy…

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EFTA calls for immediate humanitarian help with food, water and adequate medical aid to the civilian victims of war.
We are witnessing an escalation of violence that is inhuman and full of rage and pain. As European systemic practitioners and psychotherapists of EFTA – concerned with the well-being of the mind, heart and life of each individual person, of couples and families – we appeal for respect for human rights and for the lives of the civilian populations of the two territories. The vicious circle of violence that has been created must be interrupted.This is only possible when people are considering each other’s needs.
It is necessary to go beyond the horrific massacres of these days and not feed the escalation, overcoming the impasse that only produces violence.
No position is solely right in this conflict. Diplomatic pressure is needed to make political negotiations happen.
If not, new generations on both sides will carry on the trauma-infected consciousness causing only destruction and death as in the past.
Our humanity depends on our courage to believe in peace-making interventions.

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1. Reflection from Umberta Telfener : As Social Justice and Systemic Thinking Task Force we met the first time at the NFTO in Sofia in June 2023, we created a whatsup group and exchanged some “fast” thoughts wondering what to deal with. Too many issues seemed important and focus was needed. Then life took over but right now we decided to start meeting and discussing again regularly. These words are just some reflections on the too many terrible and unjustified wars we are surrounded by.

Few days ago a client of mine posed this question: “Are we more violent compared to Medieval times?” I was stunned since I was questioning myself about the horrors of war in a time of enhanced consciousness: why does a civilized country become violent and destroy others? How can individuals de-humanize and do things that are despicable and they would judge as horrendous in times of peace? I started searching ….

2. Answer from Borislava Metcheva : I read the article carefully and so many thoughts are racing through my head… I am struggling a lot with the idea how we can make sense of what is going on globally so that the way we make sense of it help us see a path forward…
Here are some of my thoughts:
First of all, I am thinking about “conscious purpose” (Bateson) – for how long as societies we were enchanted by this premise and for how long this narrative of “achievement-improvement-more achievement-more ambition-and so on” organized our behavior at large scale…

3. Thoughts by Cinthe Lemmens : I read  both of your contributions, Umberta and Borislava, my systemic colleagues, friends. How good is it not to feel alone, to belong to a large systemic community. Connectivity and exchange as an antidote to apathy, indifference, desensitization, numbness, hopelessness…
Reading your thoughts brings up new thoughts, memories.
It takes me back to the presentation of Lucie Hornova in Sofia, Bulgaria, our latest NFTO-meeting. She (and we) talked about hope and hopelessness, quoting K. Weingarten who says: ‘Hoping is not just a feeling or a noun, hope is also a verb that we can practice. We Do Hope.’

4. Thoughts by Petya Varcheva: The written by Umberta and Borislava is strongly resonating in me. Following the flow I feel, I would like to share some of my associations and reflections
I’m also struggling with the question – how we, as humans, have created such a context in which this terrifying violence became possible and so many of us became passive bystanders, supporting with their silence or openly justifying people killing people…

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Hello to everybody, I am Umberta Telfener, the new President of EFTA.

I am very honored to have received this assignment which I personally care very much about.

I am in EFTA since 1991, first as an individual and from 2010 representing the Milan Institute of Family Therapy (Luigi Boscolo and Gianfranco Cecchin). I become a member of the TIC Board in 2016 and from November 2020 I was its Chair. Now I will act as your President and intend to do my very best.

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